Millburn Firefighters to Begin Fitness Training at Taylor Park

The Millburn Fire Department will begin a new exercise program this spring at the Parcourse Fit Center located at Taylor Park.  The new workout regimen is an expansion on the department’s hugely successful Health and Wellness program, which the Department began 10 years ago as a way of improving firefighters’ health and physical fitness. 

The Department has a personal trainer, Beth Ellis, who visits the Department 16 times each year—four times for each firefighting crew—to help program participants meet their fitness goals. The Department also uses the township swimming pool and Millburn High School track as part of its training regimen.

“At the high school, we put on 35 pounds of breathing apparatus and equipment and walk the track and stairs,” said Captain Chris Beady of the Department’s Training Division, who chairs the Health and Wellness Committee. “Not only does this improve endurance, but it also helps us measure how long an air tank will typically last. At the pool, firefighters swim laps and even improve their ability to hold their breath for extended periods. We also have a gym in each firehouse—in fact, we recently received a grant from Investors Bank’s charitable foundation to purchase new elliptical machines, and numerous town residents have supported us through donations as well.”

“Our mandatory fitness program continues to provide a great deal of benefit, with the amount of sickness and injuries among our personnel steadily dropping since the program’s inception,” said Millburn Fire Chief J. Michael Roberts. “This in turn helps us provide more effective response and service to the community.  Now that spring is finally here, we look forward to seeing Millburn residents at the park as we begin our new workout program.”